Search Archived Marriage Records
Rita Bee Hill
Rita Bee Hill, 51, of Visalia died Friday, May 4, 2001, in an automobile accident south of Hanford. Rita Bee was born in Hayward on Aug. 1, 1949. She married Jim Hill, formerly of Lemoore, in Visalia on Dec. 16, 1972. She and her husband owned a home in Cambria and she entertained there often. She was well-known in the community for her love of life along with good wine and good food. She made "deck-sitting" into a fine art.
Rita graduated from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, in 1971 and moved to Visalia to work for the Tulare County Planning Department. During her 17-year planning career, she served in many local and state leadership roles and was instrumental in the establishing and managing the Tulare County Economic Development Corporation. In 1989, Rita became a partner in a local public relations agency that currently operates as Rita B. & Company. Rita B. & Company will continue to serve its clients in the spirit and tradition of Rita's leadership and commitment to community.
Rita Bee Hill was her father's daughter. Carlos Bee was speaker pro tem of the California Assembly and was a champion for higher education. Like her father, Rita believed people can solve problems by working together. She inspired, cajoled and shamed people into doing the right things and she rolled up her sleeves and worked alongside everyone from whom she requested help.
Rita was extraordinarily generous with her time and talents. She served as a member or director of many organizations including the Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Visalia and County Center Rotary Clubs, Networking for Women, Visalia Planning Commission, City Manager's Advisory Group, California Women for Agriculture, Family Planning Program and the United Way of Tulare County. Rita was widely recognized and honored for who she was and what she accomplished, including as Visalia's Woman of the Year in 1998.
Rita's capacity for connecting and communicating with people was boundless. In addition to all she did for our community, she was never too busy for her family, especially her beloved nieces and nephews. Rita is survived by her husband, Jim, a math instructor at Redwood High School; her son, Tony; and her granddaughter, Libby. In Oregon, Rita leaves her sister, Carla Bee; her nephew, Sam Burke; and her niece, Nora Burke. In Sacramento, she leaves her sister, Lori Lane; brother-in-law, Kelly; and nieces Kyle, Kendall, and Caitlin. In Chico, she leaves her brother, Allan Bee; his wife, Allison; nephew, Carson; and niece, Lauren. Her sister, Diane Murphy, preceded her in death. Rita also leaves a vast network of friends and associates who feel like family.
Among the many charitable organizations she supported are Family Services of Tulare County, the YMCA and the California Antique Farm Equipment Show. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to the Cal Poly Alumni Association, Central Valley Chapter (Attn: Norm Gomes, P. O. Box 1169, Clovis, CA 93613) or the Visalia Community Rotary Foundation (1102 N. Chinowth Street, Visalia, CA 93291).
A celebration of Rita's life will be 10 a.m. Friday on the grounds of the Visalia Country Club. Because parking is limited, shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking lot of the former Montgomery Ward store, 3535 W. Mineral King Ave.
Craig Tyler Jackman
Surgery technician
HANFORD -- Craig Tyler Jackman, 49, of Hanford died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, in Hanford. He was a surgery technician.
He was born on Sept. 14, 1951, in Tulsa, Okla., to Charles and Helen Jackman. He served in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his daughter, Hailey Louise Jackman; his parents, Charles and Helen Jackman; a brother, Bill Jackman; cousins Jack and Debra Campbell; and aunt and uncle, Bonnie and George Lowery; and numerous other loving cousins, nephews, family and friends.
Services will be 12:30 p.m. today at Floral Haven Chapel in Broken Arrow, Okla., with Les Williams officiating. Burial will be at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, Okla. There will be a local memorial service after his daughter's return to town.
Edwin Matheny Jr.
TULARE -- Edwin Stockham Matheny Jr., 76, of Tulare died Sunday, May 6, 2001. He worked for city of Tulare schools in the maintenance department.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hamilton Peers Lorentzen Funeral Chapel, Tulare. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Tulare District Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the First Church of God Building Fund, 833 N. Blackstone, Tulare, CA 93274.
Tereso Salvatierra
IVANHOE -- Tereso Salvatierra, 62, of Ivanhoe died Sunday, May 6, 2001.
Visitation will be 2-6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hadley Funeral Chapel, Visalia. Rosary will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the chapel. Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Family Catholic Church, Visalia. Interment will be at Visalia District Cemetery.
Anna Silva
Homemaker
TULARE -- Anna Silva, 87, of Tulare died Saturday, May 5, 2001. She was a homemaker.
Visitation will be 1-8 p.m. today at Goble-Miller Funeral Chapel, Tulare. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Burial will be at Tulare District Cemetery.
Lorraine Willson
Retired bank teller
Lorraine Willson, 77, of Visalia died Wednesday, April 18, 2001. She was a retired bank teller.
Lorraine was born on Sept. 18, 1923, to Walter and Evelyn Long. She came to Visalia in 1934. She was a bank teller for Bank of America.
Lorraine is survived by one son, Daniel C. Willson of Bishop; two brothers, Easton Long of Sacramento and Walter Irving Long of Sonora; one sister, Ardeene Sweet of Ahwahnee; and two grandchildren. Lorraine was a member of the Eastern Star and former deputy for the Rainbow Girls.
Service was held last week in Bishop. Arrangements were by Miller Memorial Chapel, Visalia.
Nell Claudine Wright
Homemaker
GOSHEN -- Nell Claudine Wright, 77, of Goshen passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2001, in Visalia. She was a homemaker.
She was born in Blevins, Ark., on March 18, 1924, to Alden and Essie Houser. She was raised and educated in Arkansas and Arizona, graduating from Santa Ana High School in 1941. She married her husband of 58 years, Chester Lee Wright, in Reno, Nev., on May 25, 1942. The couple moved to Goshen in 1946 to make their home, moved to Visalia in 1990 and returned to Goshen in 2000. She loved playing bingo, garage sales, crocheting and traveling to Reno and Lake Tahoe. She especially enjoyed her children and grandchildren, who will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her daughter; Janice Kay Sheppard, in 1997; her brother, Howard Houser; and her sister; Phelba Moyer.
Survivors include her husband, Chester L. Wright of Goshen; her daughter, Sharon Hitt, and her husband, Doug, of Goshen; her son, Steve Wright of Visalia; a brother, Frank Houser, and his wife, Mary, of Woodland; six grandchildren, Jeff Hitt of Goshen, Wendy Murphy of Goshen, Dustin Hitt of Lake Almanor, Paul Wright of Kent, Wash., Michelle Sheppard of Goshen and Michael Sheppard of Goshen; and 10 great-grandchildren, Lacey, Derek, Dylan, Nathan, Savanah, McKenzie, Logan, Bailey, Michael and Reece.
Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. today at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Visalia District Cemetery.
Elsie Brogan
Elsie Brogan, 91, died April 13, 2001.
Services 1 p.m. at Goble-Miller Funeral Chapel, Tulare.
Lena Coelho
Lena Coelho, 75, died April 14, 2001. Rosary/Mass 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Miller's Tulare Funeral Home, Tulare.
Howard J. Feldmann
Howard J. Feldmann, 89, died April 9, 2001. Services 10 a.m. April 18 at First Presbyterian Church in Exeter.
Evans-Miller Exeter Chapel.
Mildred Humbarger
Mildred Humbarger, 95, died April 14, 2001.
Graveside services 2 p.m. at Lindsay-Strathmore Cemetery.
Webb-Sanders Funeral Home, Lindsay.
